Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Private E. Farmer, Royal Marine Light Infantry, who was killed when H.M.S. Goliath was torpedoed and sunk off Cape Helles in May 1915

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (E. Farmer, Pte., R.M., H.M.S. Dwarf); 1914-15 Star (Ply. 6748 Pte. E. Farmer, R.M.L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (Ply. 6748 Pte. E. Farmer, R.M.L.I.), generally good very fine (4) £400-500

Ernest Farmer was born in Lambeth, London in May 1875 and enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry in September 1893. Posted to the Plymouth Division as a Private, he joined H.M.S. Dwarf in April 1902, thereby just qualifying for the Queen’s South Africa Medal. Having then transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve in November 1905, he was recalled on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, in which month he joined the Goliath.

After the landing of troops on the Gallipoli Peninsula, fire support from naval vessels became ever important. Old pre-dreadnought battleships were assigned this task. On 13 May 1915, whilst at anchor in company with Cornwallis in Morto Bay, the old battleship Goliath was attacked by the Turkish destroyer Mouavenet-Millieh, which in fog, evaded the allied destroyer screen and fired three torpedoes in quick succession. The first hit Goliath abreast the fore turret, the second abreast the foremost funnel and a third abreast the after turret, and so swiftly did the battleship sink that many of those below were drowned before they could reach the upper deck. Of the 750 on board Goliath about 570, including Captain Shelford and Private Farmer were drowned.

He was 39 years old and left a widow, Geraldine Eadkline Farmer, of 38, Martyrs Road, Canterbury, Kent, where he had worked as a storekeeper in the Engineers’ Department of the G.P.O. after departing the Marines in 1905. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial; sold with copied medal roll verification and service record.